Sol Weinstein

Sol Weinstein (1928–2012, born in Trenton, NJ) – [ - left New York University before graduating and began his career as a reporter for the Trentonian. He soon established himself as a comedy writer, producing material for leading entertainers including Alan King, Joe E. Lewis, Bob Hope, and Dean Martin. He also contributed to MAD magazine and wrote the song “The Curtain Falls,” which became Bobby Darin’s signature closing number and later appeared in the film Beyond the Sea (2004). In the late 1960s he hosted a nightly radio talk show in Philadelphia before moving into television writing. Famous for creating Israel Bond, a satirical Jewish version of James Bond. Operating under the code name Oy-Oy-7, Israel Bond is a “Hebrew Secret Agent” who is “licensed not only to kill, but to say prayers over the corpse”. The character first appeared in parodies serialized in Playboy magazine during the mid-1960s. During the 1970s Weinstein partnered with Howard Albrecht, writing for popular television series including The Love Boat, The Jeffersons, Three’s Company, Barney Miller, Maude, and Chico and the Man. Examples of Sol Weinstein’s approach to humour may be inferred from some of his other published titles, e.g. Everything you never wanted to know about sex [1971], Jonathan Segal Chicken [1973], The Oddfather [1973], The Exerciser [1974] and Oh, Henry! The Supersecret Adventures of Henry Kissingherr [2014]. In 2002 Weinstein emigrated to Plimmerton, New Zealand, to be near his son. He died there in 2012 at the age of 84. – ChatGPT]

Weinstein wrote four novels starring Israel Bond, all published between 1965 and 1968: 

Loxfinger (1965) – A parody of Goldfinger, featuring villain Lazarus Loxfinger and the femme fatale Nu Kee.

Matzohball (1966) – A parody of Thunderball involving a KGB plot to restore its reputation.

On the Secret Service of His Majesty, the Queen (1966) – Bond guards a monarch on the Arabic island of Sahd Sakistan.

You Only Live Until You Die (1968) – A parody of You Only Live Twice featuring the villain Dr. Ernst Holzknicht. 

Key Characteristics of the Parody

Lifestyle: Unlike the luxury-obsessed original, Israel Bond favors generic “Mall labels,” such as Lazy Possum hush puppies.

Cover Identity: He often poses as a salesman for Mother Margolies’ Old World Chicken Soup.

Humor Style: The books are known for relentless puns, Jewish folklore, and a rapid-fire comedic pace. 

The entire series was later collected in The Israel Bond Omnibus. See also the Sherlock Holmes parodies of Robert L. Fish in this Bibliography. [Google/AI]

Weinstein, Sol [Israel Bond #1], (Loxfinger [pb. About Comics, 2011]) 978-1936404100 [pb, Pocket Books, 1965] B002B22NO6

Weinstein, Sol [Israel Bond #2], (Matzohball [pb, About Comics, 2011] 978-1936404117 [hc, Pocket Books, 1966] B000SGPUKG

Weinstein, Sol [Israel Bond #3], (On the Secret Service of His Majesty, the Queen [pb. About Comics, 2011]) 978-1936404124 [pb, PB Special, 1966] B000KFQZV8

Weinstein, Sol [Israel Bond #4], (You Only Live Until You Die [pb. About Comics, 2011]) 978-1936404131 [hc, Trident Press, 1968] B0006BUW06

Weinstein, Sol (The Israel Bond Omnibus [pb. About Comics, 2011]) 978-1936404148